The British production of Antiques Roadshow recently featured a sketched self-portrait John Lennon drew of himself and Yoko Ono during their bed-in for peace in Amsterdam. Done on the a cardboard TV cue card in just a few minutes at couple's hotel for a member of film crew, it was appraised by the show's expert at between $43,000 and $50,000.
A British website recently compiled some "inside stories" about Beatles songs. Among them:
- John Lennon mistakenly thought Paul McCartney wrote "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" about his first wife, Linda. However, it appears Paul wrote the song about a fan who broke into his home.
- Another McCartney classic, "Helter Skelter" was inspired by a British amusement ride with a spiral track that descends a tower. Unfortunately, murderous cult leader Charles Manson believed the song was about Armageddon.
Ringo Starr recently told Parade magazine that never had a problem with Beatles manager Brian Epstein being gay. "I had known a lot of gay men... It didn’t matter to us. We were lads of the time. Or maybe, OK then, lads ahead of our time.”
Ringo wrapped up his U.S. All-Starr Band tour Sunday in Los Angeles. He's currently working on a new album.